Today's encouragement comes from Job 16:19, where we read these words:
"Surely even now my witness is in heaven, and my evidence is on high."
Even in the midst of all Job's suffering, and even in the face of all the torment-ing "comfort" he was receiving from his misguided friends—he (Job) still had enough grace to recognize that the "witness" of his faith was still "in heaven," and that his "evidence" was "on high."
Did Job *feel* this? Probably not. But he certainly believed it, nonetheless. Job's example is a good one for all faithful churchmen today. Sometimes, we feel beaten down, and discouraged; but we must always remember that our faith takes hold of Jesus, who is our “Witness in heaven," and our “Evidence on high."
[Puritan quote of the day: "Now Christians know that they are in their warfare, they are here in this world fighting and combating with the enemies of their souls and their eternal welfare, and they must be willing to endure hardship here.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"]
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Tues., 2/16/16 Devotion (1 Cor. 3:21b, 22b, 23)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 3:21b, 22b, & 23, where we read these words:
"For all things are yours . . . —all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s."
The Corinthian parishioners to whom the apostle wrote this epistle thought themselves to be pretty hot stuff. But they were essentially missing the whole point of their Christian lives: what made them special was not their ability to outdo one another with tongues, knowledge, or miracles. Instead, what really set them apart is the very same thing that makes every faithful churchmen today so remarkable: they were in Christ, who Himself possesses everything of value.
If we have Jesus, we have everything: "All things are [ours].” Disconnected from Jesus, we have nothing. With this biblical perspective, true Christians may live in perfect peace and full contentment, knowing that we already—even in this world—possess everything in Christ alone.
[Puritan quote of the day: "You are bone of [Christ's] bone, and flesh of His flesh; and to have a member of Jesus Christ in a condition of discontent is ex-ceedingly unworthy.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"]
"For all things are yours . . . —all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s."
The Corinthian parishioners to whom the apostle wrote this epistle thought themselves to be pretty hot stuff. But they were essentially missing the whole point of their Christian lives: what made them special was not their ability to outdo one another with tongues, knowledge, or miracles. Instead, what really set them apart is the very same thing that makes every faithful churchmen today so remarkable: they were in Christ, who Himself possesses everything of value.
If we have Jesus, we have everything: "All things are [ours].” Disconnected from Jesus, we have nothing. With this biblical perspective, true Christians may live in perfect peace and full contentment, knowing that we already—even in this world—possess everything in Christ alone.
[Puritan quote of the day: "You are bone of [Christ's] bone, and flesh of His flesh; and to have a member of Jesus Christ in a condition of discontent is ex-ceedingly unworthy.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"]
Monday, February 15, 2016
Mon., 2/15/16 Devotion (1 Cor. 2:7)
Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 2:7, where Paul wrote this:
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory . . . "
God’s Christian churchmen, in varying degrees, know His secrets (cf. Ps. 25:14). The Lord whispers them, as it were, in their ears. God's wisdom, though historically fully expressed in the cross and resurrection of Jesus (and clearly communicated in the Scripture), yet cannot be known by natural man and his reason alone. It must be revealed by the Holy Spirit, directly to the souls of God's redeemed children.
Do we know the wisdom of God; or are we merely surviving with the rudi-ments of a fallen mind and intellect? If we do not know God's wisdom, let us ask Him for it in and through Jesus. God will not turn away any sincere re-quest, initiated by His own Spirit's saving work.
[Puritan quote of the day: "You have heaven while you are on earth when you have a contented spirit; yea, in some regards it is better than heaven.”
—Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"]
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory . . . "
God’s Christian churchmen, in varying degrees, know His secrets (cf. Ps. 25:14). The Lord whispers them, as it were, in their ears. God's wisdom, though historically fully expressed in the cross and resurrection of Jesus (and clearly communicated in the Scripture), yet cannot be known by natural man and his reason alone. It must be revealed by the Holy Spirit, directly to the souls of God's redeemed children.
Do we know the wisdom of God; or are we merely surviving with the rudi-ments of a fallen mind and intellect? If we do not know God's wisdom, let us ask Him for it in and through Jesus. God will not turn away any sincere re-quest, initiated by His own Spirit's saving work.
[Puritan quote of the day: "You have heaven while you are on earth when you have a contented spirit; yea, in some regards it is better than heaven.”
—Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"]
Friday, February 12, 2016
Fri.-Sabbath, 2/12-14/16 Devotion
Yippee—it is almost Sunday! Here is Thomas Watson, from his "The Ten Commandments" book:
"We keep the Sabbath Day holy, by 'consecrating and dedicating' this day to the 'service of the high God.' It is good to rest on the Sabbath Day from the works of our calling; but if we rest from labor and do no more, the ox and the donkey keep the Sabbath as well as we; for they rest from labor. We must dedicate the day to God; we must not only 'keep a Sabbath,' but 'sanctify' a Sabbath. Sabbath-sanctification consists in two things: 1) Solemn preparation for it. If a prince were to come to your house, what preparation would you make for his entertainment! You would sweep the house, wash the floor, adorn the room with the richest tapestry and hangings, that there might be something suitable to the state and dignity of so great a person.
"On the blessed Sabbath, God intends to have sweet communion with you; He seems to say to you, as Christ to Zacchaeus, 'Make haste and come down, for this day I must abide at your house,' (Luke 19:5). Now, what pre-paration should you make for entertaining this King of glory? When Saturday evening approaches, sound a retreat; call your minds off from the world and summon your thoughts together, to think of the great work of the approaching day. Purge out all unclean affections, which may indispose you for the work of the Sabbath. Evening preparation will be like the tuning of an instrument, it will fit the heart better for the duties of the ensuing Sabbath."
"We keep the Sabbath Day holy, by 'consecrating and dedicating' this day to the 'service of the high God.' It is good to rest on the Sabbath Day from the works of our calling; but if we rest from labor and do no more, the ox and the donkey keep the Sabbath as well as we; for they rest from labor. We must dedicate the day to God; we must not only 'keep a Sabbath,' but 'sanctify' a Sabbath. Sabbath-sanctification consists in two things: 1) Solemn preparation for it. If a prince were to come to your house, what preparation would you make for his entertainment! You would sweep the house, wash the floor, adorn the room with the richest tapestry and hangings, that there might be something suitable to the state and dignity of so great a person.
"On the blessed Sabbath, God intends to have sweet communion with you; He seems to say to you, as Christ to Zacchaeus, 'Make haste and come down, for this day I must abide at your house,' (Luke 19:5). Now, what pre-paration should you make for entertaining this King of glory? When Saturday evening approaches, sound a retreat; call your minds off from the world and summon your thoughts together, to think of the great work of the approaching day. Purge out all unclean affections, which may indispose you for the work of the Sabbath. Evening preparation will be like the tuning of an instrument, it will fit the heart better for the duties of the ensuing Sabbath."
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Thurs., 2/11/16 Devotion (Gen. 44:30b)
Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 44:30b, which says this:
" . . . Since his life is bound up in the lad’s life . . . "
The reference (above) is Jacob's life being entwined around and in his young-est son's (Benjamin's) life. Let us legitimately extrapolate a bit, and note that Christ's life is bound up with that of His redeemed church (collectively), and with every individual saint within it (individually).
This is how close God is to those who are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone: what happens to them means *everything* to Him. The redeem-ed church is the "apple of God's eye"; therefore, let us be ever-mindful of how much the Lord loves us who truly are His, and takes to heart what happens to us.
[Puritan quote of the day: "[God] will outwit the most subtle and overthrow the most stubborn hypocrite on earth.” —Richard Steele, in, "The Character of an Upright Man"]
" . . . Since his life is bound up in the lad’s life . . . "
The reference (above) is Jacob's life being entwined around and in his young-est son's (Benjamin's) life. Let us legitimately extrapolate a bit, and note that Christ's life is bound up with that of His redeemed church (collectively), and with every individual saint within it (individually).
This is how close God is to those who are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone: what happens to them means *everything* to Him. The redeem-ed church is the "apple of God's eye"; therefore, let us be ever-mindful of how much the Lord loves us who truly are His, and takes to heart what happens to us.
[Puritan quote of the day: "[God] will outwit the most subtle and overthrow the most stubborn hypocrite on earth.” —Richard Steele, in, "The Character of an Upright Man"]
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Wed., 2/10/16 Devotion (Job 9:1-2)
Today's encouragement comes from Job 9:1 & 2, which says this:
"Then Job answered and said: 'Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?' "
Job's question here (above) is very important. After all, just *how* can a hu-man being, conceived in original sin and always being affected by that sinful nature, actually "be righteous before God"? This is a big problem, since God Himself is totally righteous and holy, and nothing short of absolute sinless perfection will, can, or should satisfy Him.
Nothing we could ever do or perform would give us this righteousness before God. No amount of religion, prayers, or effort will or could suffice. A sinful per-son gets righteous before God when he/she realizes that Jesus alone is his/
her righteousness. Christ is apprehended by faith. Therefore, a person is "righteous before God" through faith in the Redeemer, and in no other way.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A Christian may come to lead a comfortable life, even a heaven upon earth, be the times what they will: by Christian content-ment.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]
"Then Job answered and said: 'Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?' "
Job's question here (above) is very important. After all, just *how* can a hu-man being, conceived in original sin and always being affected by that sinful nature, actually "be righteous before God"? This is a big problem, since God Himself is totally righteous and holy, and nothing short of absolute sinless perfection will, can, or should satisfy Him.
Nothing we could ever do or perform would give us this righteousness before God. No amount of religion, prayers, or effort will or could suffice. A sinful per-son gets righteous before God when he/she realizes that Jesus alone is his/
her righteousness. Christ is apprehended by faith. Therefore, a person is "righteous before God" through faith in the Redeemer, and in no other way.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A Christian may come to lead a comfortable life, even a heaven upon earth, be the times what they will: by Christian content-ment.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Tues., 2/9/16 Devotion (Mk. 12:34a)
Today's encouragement comes from Mark 12:34a, where we read these words:
"Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to [the scribe], 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' "
I wonder how many people with whom we will speak today are "not far from the kingdom of God”? The Holy Spirit starts a work in souls, often long before they are regenerated in Christ. Let all faithful churchmen recognize this fact, and act in accord with it. In other words, some people with whom we are cur-rently doing evangelism—though they are not yet "in" the kingdom (church) of God—may not be far from it.
Clearly, proximity to the kingdom has something to do with doctrinal under-standing (especially of the gospel). But it must also have something to do with human love and patience. Let us be those who encourage others who are "not far" away; and not be those who discourage them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace is necessary for a Christian; others things are but inconveniences.” —Christopher Love, in his sermon, "Uses of Instruc-tion and Trial"]
"Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to [the scribe], 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' "
I wonder how many people with whom we will speak today are "not far from the kingdom of God”? The Holy Spirit starts a work in souls, often long before they are regenerated in Christ. Let all faithful churchmen recognize this fact, and act in accord with it. In other words, some people with whom we are cur-rently doing evangelism—though they are not yet "in" the kingdom (church) of God—may not be far from it.
Clearly, proximity to the kingdom has something to do with doctrinal under-standing (especially of the gospel). But it must also have something to do with human love and patience. Let us be those who encourage others who are "not far" away; and not be those who discourage them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace is necessary for a Christian; others things are but inconveniences.” —Christopher Love, in his sermon, "Uses of Instruc-tion and Trial"]
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